Mobilgas Modernized — And Westport Was There

Since your recent postings have included Westport service stations and artist Stevan Dohanos, we thought we would combine the two for you.

The picture is the cover of the Socony Mobil 1956 Annual Report. It depicts their conversion from one logo to another.

The inside page of the Annual Report says that the station was leased by Ben Sheehan on the “Boston Post Road” in Westport.

But as the painting progressed, Dohanos added other bits of Westport life.

The house in the background would be a view you would see while standing on Main Street in front of what is now Westport Pizzeria, and looking above the gas station there.

Sandie volunteered at the Mobil archives when the original painting was sent to the official ExxonMobil archives at the University of Texas around 2000, and she sent a copy to the Westport Library.

Does anyone have any recollections of where this gas station was, exactly? Could it actually have been the Mobil station on Main Street? Do you recognize any folks in the illustration? Or the dog?! Click “Comments” to share your memories.

The gas station (Jimmy’s, run by Gene during the 60’s & 70’s) on Main St, across from Westport Pizza, had the service bays on the right side, with the lobby on the left, and behind it was a grey & white house that rented rooms during the 60’s & 70’s.. Then there was Werner’s behind that house. The original Bill’s Smoke Shop was in the location of Westport Pizza (before it existed) and then moved to the small center next to the Westport News.

Glad that is the old Mobil cause the current one just plain rips off people with the prices they charge for gas. I am totally amazed that anyone would go there. They charge at least 50 cents more a gallon.

I thought it was the Shell and BP that charged too much. I thought it ironic when the owner of the BP station whined that someone had stolen the carved bear in front. The police should have gone and charged him with robbing customers with every gallon they put in their car. 🙂